Paradise >> As the fire season trudges towards the driest part of the year — August through October — the Butte County Fire Safe Council has received $250,000 from PG&E to help minimize the fire risk to the county.

On Thursday, PG&E met with the council at a home on Ronsue Drive in Paradise to demonstrate how the grant from the energy company can be used by the group.

A local tree company hired by the council came out with its wood chipper to turn flammable brush into wood chips that can be safely spread for ground cover and compost.

Darrel Wilson, chairman of Butte County Fire Safe Council said the money won't only be used for resident assistance programs like the one that allows a chipper to be deployed at a home to create defensible space.

"The money will also be used ... for education programs plus shaded fuel breaks along highways," he noted.

The grant is part of a long-term partnership the two groups have had, according to PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno.

He added that this grant is part of a wider effort by the company to work with Fire Safe Councils throughout Northern and Central California to help fund a variety of wildfire prevention projects, including fire breaks, educating and helping residents maintain defensible space around their properties.

"Chipping waste is always the better option," said 5th District Supervisor Doug Teeter, who was present for the event. "You know many people just store it and wait to burn it, instead of using this free service — at least from the community perspective is really a benefit."

Moreno said the council has to use to the entire grant by the end of this fire season, which may not end until late October.